The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-04-14

JointS, one Sct ABOVE the other, but not
all at once. A considerable interval OF
time elapscs between the formation Of
successive whorls of roots. But deer
dilting interferes with the course oI
nature and causes new roots to form
prematurely. Again, by only partially
iilllng tho water-furrow at the first work.
ing, moro dirt is thrown into it at the
second working, and covers and smoth-
ers grass most thoroughly, dispensing
with all hoe-work. Where corn is not
planted in the water-furrow we have
found it an excellent plan to use q twister
OF turning,shoVei, and starting in the
center OF the middloS bed up with bar
side next the corn. The last furrow can
be run very near the corn, dirtine it
lightly, but enough to cover up v01np
grass ottcctually if it is done early
enough. We contend that a hoe need
never enter cornfield. Such siding
gives a good opportunity to put manure
on each side OF corn to be covered at tho
next working.
We repeat tho recommendation here
toforc givon to supplement the corn
crop with one Of the recently introduced
millcts or sorghums, as kaf1ir corn or
milo maizc. Kaifir corn is nothing like
| ordinary corn; it resembles milo maize,
but has dwarfer habit and natures
| earlier. 1t and milo maize have been
widely advertised as forage crops; we
value them moro for their seed, which
are about rs valuable as ordinary corn
Tor stock feed. If not moro valuable
than corn, why plant them, asks one.
Because they stand drought better, and
VIII make crop where com would
utterly tail. If one is forced to rely
upon thin uplands to make corn, he had
better plant katiir corn or an early ma
turing strain of milo maize, rather than
common corn. The former is much
moro certain to produce crop under
the conditions mentioned-espccially in
dry SC0SOn-than the latter. Plant
corn on bottom lands and on fresh rich
lands, but coDiinc it to these, and plant
kaliir corn Oh thin uplands. 70 those
who have never cultivated the latter, VIC
may say, It's culture is similar to that of
ordinary SOrGhum-nothinG peculiar or
difficult about it.
EaiSiDg supplies nt home is the fore
most ana most important of all problems
TO the cOtton-raiser. 1t is useless to at
tempt Improvement OF any kind until
Cie farm IS made self-supporting. He
will certainly fail ii he buys provisions.
The experience of the last twcuty years
has most thoroughly demonstrated this.
Go where you will, the men wuo raise
supplies aG home arc the PROSPEROUS
farmers. Their lands arc not mortgagcd.
Lhcy do not haVc to ask merchants to
run them. For this we stress every
crop which will help tho fnrmer to raise
the provisions he needs; katlir corn and
nj 10 maize &tuilo us rs very promising
grain producing crops. They arc gen
craa rNt0iled as forage plants; we Go
not pl%Zo them nightly for that; ordinary
com So"n II drills has no superior rs II
forage plant. II one will manage it
properly there is no occasion to hunt I'D
any otnCr crop as q substitute. It is
urged upon every tanner, who is ut all
short Of forage, or likely 70 be, to SOW
a good breadth Of land i'll drilled corn
tlHS month. 1t may be sown at any
time from April to August, but the early
soWlngS are the most 5atisfactOry-most
apt to succeed. Prepare the land very
thoroughly by repeated plowings, roll
lnGs and halTOwlnGs; make drills four
tIet apart to admit plenty of air and
l!5At; SOW seed 80 that grains mAy be
from Two TO three inches apart, and
when up cultivate with sweep. Some
thluk forage corn should be sown very
thlckly to mako tho stalks very small.
Or course very large stalks arc objcc-
tlonabie, but II each plant has not the
opportunity OF developing itself pretty
thoroughly, the forage will lack quality;
It will be tastcless and not rclished by
stock, Each stalk ought TO have
sufficient opportunity to enable it to
make little nubbin, and the crop
should not be gathered until the little
nuoDm is III roasting car.
Another very valuable food crop,
Which may be started the last of this
month, Is German millct. 1t is an ex-
ceedu3iy strong, nutritious forage
stronger perhaps than any other, unless
exception be made of clover hay and
peaWnes. Whilst it may not equal these
III some respects, it is better balanced
food. 1t calls for rather rich land, but
grows well on poor land when manured
and properly prepared. Stable manure,
cotton seed meal, ammoniatcd fertilizers
or cOmpOSts will answer. The land
should be prepared, as described above,
Tor drilled corn, u half bushcl of seed
Sown on oll acre and very lightly har-
roWed III and then rolled. All small
seeds, which must be planted shallow,
should bo rolled after they arc narrowed
III. III lnSureS both moro prompt and
moro certain termination of the seed.
{omembcr thnt German millet should
be cut promptly as soon as blooms ap-
pear, the seed form and mature very
quickly after the bloom, unusually SO,
and 1t Is not desirable to let tho seed
mature. They are so small that they
arc not properly masticatcd, may swell
IN stomach and do harm, or else pass
through undigested and are lost. The
extreme case with which this millet is
cut and cured also commends it to our
high esteem; 1t has decided advantage
over corn forage in this respect.
Increased interest has been developed
Of late i'll the Groupdpca crop on account
oi the Introduction Of the variety termed
"5panish." We do not know its origin
or history, but on trial have found it a
very excellent variety. The pods fill
"clI, and cluster largely around the
main root making the dirpin0 of them